Organized Money

How Progressives Can Leverage the Financial System to Work for Them, Not Against Them

Keith Mestrich, Mark A. Pinsky

• Publisher: The New Press
• Year: 2019
• eBook ISBN: 9781620975053
• Edition: 0
• Topic: Economics
• Subtopic: Nonprofit Organizations & Charities
• Index: Economics

Two leading figures from the world of finance show how progressives can take their money away from conservative financial institutions and put it to good, lasting social use

The U.S. financial system may be working for some people, but it isn't working for most of us who care about progressive causes. In fact, our financial system taps your money to pay for a conservative agenda. It's a heads-they-win, tails-you-lose game when the fees you pay to use your credit card finance fossil fuels even when you buy green products. Conservative "money muscle" shapes our culture, society, politics, and public policy.

In this bold call to action, two leaders from the world of progressive finance propose a strategy to challenge this conservative dominance of the financial sector: organized progressive money. It's a $10 trillion plan for a full- service, market-scale progressive financial system. Mestrich and Pinsky explain how progressives can take control with financial institutions of their own and products that align with progressive values.

Organized Money warns that until progressives organize their money, they will lose again and again while conservatives will keep winning. It's a crucial message for the next progressive era, starting with the make-or-break 2020 election cycle, where American voters will be presented with a choice between conservative market fundamentalism that leaves them out or inclusive restorative capitalism that is good for people as well as profits.

Written in clear, engaging prose for non- financial readers and finance leaders alike, Organized Money is required reading for everyone ready to confront the excesses of conservative power and influence.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Dedication
• Contents
• Preface: The Problem: It’s a “heads they win, tails you lose” game. What are your odds?
• 1. You and Your Money: If you don’t know how the financial system works, it probably doesn’t work for you
• 2. Market Fundamentalism: The financial system must be working for someone. Who?
• 3. Missing the Opportunity: If you want to see how far off track we are, follow the money going to Opportunity Zones
• 4. What Is Money Muscle?: When you make yourself indispensable, you’re powerful
• 5. Progress in Mainstream Money: This is not the first time progressives have seen signs of change in conventional finance, so what’s different now?
• 6. The Public-Purpose Economy: If you want to build a progressive financial system, you need a vision of the purpose it will serve
• 7. Pumping Progressive Money Muscle: Is progressive money muscle even a thing?
• 8. Progressive Finance in the United States: We have a 250-year history of inclusive and progressive finance that is central to our economic and social gains. It is hidden in plain sight. It is surging now
• 9. The Foundation of a Progressive Finance Network: In practice, progressive financial institutions have many of the building blocks they need to begin assembling an infrastructure that works for them
• 10. Whose Wealth Is It Anyway?: Progressives have more wealth than most people know. Where is it? What is it doing?
• 11. Organizing Progressive Money for Power and Influence: Progressives have never lacked ideas and vision. Organizing our money is an unprecedented strategy to power progressive gains
• Conclusion: Take a Shot!: We need to create the financial system Alexander Hamilton intended
• Authors’ Note
• Abbreviations
• Selected Resources
• Notes
• Index
• About the Authors
• Publishing in the Public Interest
• Copyright